A very well done episode. Nothing truly wrong with it, but not the best. For me, the best part was when was when Ishara was phasered. Watch closely, she fires her own weapon, flailing it as she goes down and it carves a path in the wall!

Rather an interesting episode. Regarding Turkana IV, it is clearly an allegory for a failed state and I find it hard to believe that the Federation Council would sit on its hands and let the colony go to Hell in a handcart (although in political cynic mode, it happens in the real world all the time). The Prime Directive does not apply to a Human colony, indeed it wouldn't exist but for the Federation, so they should send in a peacekeeping force and sort it out, whether they declared independence or not. However, it is clearly necessary for the story, and dealing with one faction in a failed state is a very tricky business. Ishara Yar was a very effective character, and Beth Toussaint put in a very convincing performance (as someone putting in a very convincing performance). It's easy to see how the crew could have been taken in, and how Ishara might have been somewhat tempted (maybe that's what Troi sensed). Oddly though, she did her duty just as her sister might. They might have made a mistake by putting in the 'it's working' line, but I always think telegraphing is a mistake. As for the resolution, it worked very well. Finally, the line about Alliances and Coalitions 'sounding so reasonable' sounded like a subtle dig at NATO. If so, it was given extra irony just over a year later.